Enid Blyton was one of the most prolific authors in history. During her long career, spanning 48 years, she wrote more than 600 children’s books. To date, they have sold more than six million copies.

Writing in an age before digital technology was invented, and at a time when many of the population didn’t even have a television set; Blyton’s stories focused on children enjoying outdoor adventures. Born in August 1897, in East Dulwich, London, she simply wrote about children being children.

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Her books have been translated into 90 languages and remain best-sellers today, 55 years after her death in 1968. Delighting generations of young adventurers, their timeless appeal has spanned 100 years, from the 1920s into the 21st century.

She wrote many books about schooldays, such as the Malory Towers series, set in a girls’ boarding school in Cornwall – based on her own daughters’ experiences at boarding school in the 1940s. However, her Famous Five and Secret Seven series are the ones most kids can relate to. They involve children going on exciting holidays, where they become crusaders.

In the days when Blyton wrote the Secret Seven, going tent camping in the great outdoors was hugely exciting for children, and it still is today. The thought of running round in the sunshine, cycling along country lanes, or trail hiking will always have a universal appeal for kids of all ages – and the great outdoors is good for them, so it should be encouraged as much as possible!

Secret Seven

While the Famous Five books involved four children and their dog Timmy stumbling on mysterious happenings by chance, the Secret Seven stories were different, as the youngsters in the title had set up their own detective agency.

The main characters are siblings Janet and Peter and their friends Barbara, Jack, Pam, George and Colin. Together, they form The Secret Seven, who are ready to solve any mystery at any time. They also have a clever dog, Scamper, in their ranks.

In a series that comprises 15 mystery novels; the first Secret Seven children’s book was written in 1949. It was so popular that a new one was published annually until 1963.

Legend has it the idea for the stories came from a conversation Blyton had with her publisher, whose own children had formed a real-life secret society with their friends. They would meet in an old shed, where admission was by password only and inscribed badges must be worn.

Blyton wrote two short stories in 1948, At Seaside Cottage, followed by The Secret of the Old Mill, which introduced the main characters and described how the society was formed. The first full-length book in 1949 was called The Secret Seven.

A first edition of the book today, published by Brock Books, can be sold for around £225 – an indicator of the enduring popularity of the series.

Aimed at children aged seven and above, the illustrated books have been enjoyed by many generations, with adults who have grown up with the Secret Seven reading them again to their own children.

Outdoor adventures

The enduring theme of the Secret Seven books revolves around a group of good friends enjoying outdoor adventures during the summer holidays. The children eat cakes and drink lemonade, while puzzling over mysterious goings-on in the local community. Then, they set about solving mysteries and potential crimes, including serious cases involving missing children, stolen animals and burglaries.

They could often be found outdoors, hiding while they kept watch for suspicious people, searching for clues, following suspects and chatting to locals to find out information. There’s nothing high-tech about their exploring. They use simple outdoor equipment during their adventures, such as a telescope for long-distance surveillance, while hiding in the bushes!

I think this is why the tales have remained timeless. Children of any age can see themselves embarking on similar experiences with their pals, without having to have the latest mobile phone or smart watch. It’s exciting stuff for young readers, with the Secret Seven books inspiring many kids over the years to form similar groups of their own for school holiday fun.

Secret Seven on the Trail

In Secret Seven on the Trail, published in 1952, the rest of the group are disappointed when their leader, Peter, decides to temporarily suspend their activities, because “nothing ever happens in term-time”.

He is proved wrong when the sleuths encounter a band of petty criminals, led by the dastardly Cheeky Charlie, at Tigger’s Barn, which is a deserted old house on a hill. After spying on the rogues, the Secret Seven hold a special meeting, knowing they’re up to no good. It turns out they’re planning a train robbery – but will the Secret Seven be able to stop the crooks in time and fetch the police?

As with all the stories, there’s an element of danger in the plot, but being traditional tales for young readers, you won’t come across anything bad or too frightening happening to the intrepid young detectives!

Reawaken your sense of adventure this summer. Take a trip into the great outdoors – no-one’s allowed to sit inside playing on their mobile phone all day!